Idiopathic hydrops fetalis successfully treated in utero

Using ultrasound, nonimmunologic hydrops fetalis can be diagnosed antenatally, but the antenatal management remains debatable. To treat a fetus with idiopathic hydrops fetalis, we injected albumin into the fetal abdomen in utero. After this treatment, the hourly fetal urine production rate increased significantly, and edema and ascites disappeared subsequently at two weeks and three weeks, respectively. Edema and ascites were absent at birth. The child remains well at 18 months of age.